(Background- Yuyutsu was the son of Dhritarashtra with a vaishya woman. He was the stepbrother of Duryodhan and the only son of Kauravas to survive the Kurukshetra war. He was one among the 11 Maharathis and in spite of being born in circumstances that predisposed him to evil, he forwent his family bonds in order to side with Dharma. In the battle, he sided with the Pandavas, betraying his own brothers.)
” It is not the circumstances that define us, but the values we hold up. Values drive our lives and are the most powerful force in every choice we make. I have been raised among the Kauravas, Duryodhan was my brother, and the fire of revenge and hatred towards the Pandavas within the hearts of all my brothers and family did influence me. But I was consciously aware that righteousness stood with the Pandavas, and that is what must drive me. ” Yuyutsu closed his eyes and traveled back to the day before the war. The day that defined his life.
Yuyutsu was staring out of the window in the tiny tent erected on the grounds of Kurukshetra. The war was inevitable now, and the choice rested with him, either to fight for his brothers or against them. Fight for his family or Dharma. “I would be known forever as a traitor,” he thought. “Father would be horrified and devastated. How can I kill my brothers? I spent my entire life with them. I won’t be able to shoot an arrow at them and pierce their hearts. Hearts that hold enormous love and respect for me. How can I betray them? But there is no way I can betray my values either.” Dilemma consumed him as his heart ached for his family, but his mind knew that the right path, the right choice was to fight against his brothers. It is always the Dharma that would triumph.”
He opened his eyes and gazed at the silver polished armor hung up at the wall beside the door. The sword bore the blood of the warriors that choose to fight against the Pandavas. All his brothers had died. The greatest war of history consumed them, but he knew that it was their own choices that killed them.
” How much my life has changed since the day” wondered Yuyutsu. “Cause in the end, the Dharma triumphs. Always. Dharma conquered my dilemma as well. I chose to stay aligned with my values, aligned with righteousness, even though it meant killing my own family. Today I am all alone, in this vast kingdom of Hastinapur. Yudhisthir with his brothers and Draupadi departed yesterday to the abode of the Himalayas, entrusting me with the responsibilities of the Yuvraj and the kingdom. I am living a life without my brothers, but I do not regret my choice. It is my greatest strength instead. Though few call my as a family traitor, one who betrayed his blood but I know that being a traitor to myself and my values would have haunted me for lives. Betraying the Dharma would have set my soul on fire. Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and all the warriors that fought with the Kaurava army consciously knew that they were fighting against the Dharma. But they did not dare to betray Duryodhan. Some tied with lifelong promise and some with duty, while others were bound with circumstances. I do not blame them, I respect each warrior that sacrificed their lives in the greatest war of history. Each one of them left behind a legacy and I have enumerable lessons to learn from each one of their lives. Each one of them suffered, sacrificed, and fought for what they believed to be true.
It was a strange and difficult dilemma to be in… I had the power within me and I made sure to channelize it in the direction of Dharma. I conquered evil. First within, and then on the battlefield. It takes immense courage to kill your loved ones. But true courage lies in conquering the battle fought within. It lies in making conscious choices that are aligned with the truth and righteousness. It lies in rising from the ashes of your circumstances and giving power to your values to triumph. It lies in always standing for what you believe is true, even if it means losing your world. It lies in not betraying your true self. I have been there and I know that my choice made me suffer. My family condemned me. I cried each night after the battle. My heart ached hundred times when my brothers and family died at the battle. But I never gave up on myself and my values. Sufferings and pain killed me every time I thought of my choice but I never regret it. I do not regret killing my family and standing with the Dharma. I do not regret my circumstances or my choices at each moment of my life. I know that these choices defined me, the circumstances shaped me and my values strengthened me.” Yuyutsu wiped his tears and muttered a small prayer of gratitude. He was grateful that he had the vision to discriminate between the Adharma and the Dharma and the power to choose the latter. The power to let Dharma conquer within. With a deep breathe, he blazed a faint smile as he heard footsteps entering his chambers. He knew it was the Yuvraj with the loud steps and the juggling of the arrows.
“Here you are Parikshit. I have been waiting for you since morning Yuvraj.” smiled Yuyutsu, glaring at the King of Hastinapur. Wondering how much the world suffered and how many warriors sacrificed their lives for him to rule and establish Dharma. Wondering how the greatest war of history defined his past and how he and his values would define his future. Wondering what challenging dilemmas he would be facing tomorrow and what choices he made yesterday. Cause in the end, it is the choices that we make that make us.